Dr. Dan Edwards will be giving a presentation about the recent Nobel Prize awarded in Chemistry. Frances H. Arnold, George P. Smith, and Sir Gregory P. Winter were awarded the Prize for their work that “harnessed the power of evolution” to benefit humanity.

San Rafael –What do paintings, sculpture, photographs – in fact, all matter –have in common? Elements! Whether created in the Big Bang or in modern science labs, everything we experience as matter is made up of Elements, substances consisting of a single type of atom.

The United Nations has proclaimed 2019 to be the International Year of the Periodic Table of the Chemical Elements, in honor of the Table’s 150th anniversary. https://www.iypt2019.org/ELEMENTS, a national fine arts exhibition at the Marin Society of Artists in San Rafael, is one of the first events of this worldwide celebration! We have invited artists to interpret the theme of Elements in whatever way brings it to life for them – from alchemy to particle physics to wacky whimsy, an Element’s mystique, mythology, discovery, uses throughout history, use in art, the magical areas between the particles of the atoms, philosophical or mystical flights of fancy.

The exhibition opens on January 10, 2019, and continues through February 2, 2019. The public is invited to come explore what artists have to say about the Elements. Each artwork will be accompanied by a label explaining its connection to the theme. Gallery hours are Wednesday through Sunday, noon to 4 p.m. All are welcome to join us for the reception for the artists on Friday, January 11, 2019; this is in conjunction with the San Rafael 2nd Friday Art Walk. Chemists are especially welcome to attend!

The Marin Society of Artists is a non-profit organization promoting the arts in the community since 1927. In partnership with non-profit organizations and others it provides a broad array of arts opportunities, encouraging artists at all stages of development and the general public to explore and incorporate art in their lives. The Main Gallery showcases a new display of original art every month, most available for purchase.

The California Section will bring some hands-on chemistry plus a colorful chemistry show to Korematsu Middle School’s Science Night. You can help us encourage STEM students – please contact Alex Madonik if you would like to volunteer.

510-351-9922 by Tuesday, February 19, 2019, before noon. Please indicate if you will be

attending the Social and Presentation or the Presentation only.

Speaker: Samuel M. Clegg

Physical Chemistry and Applied Spectroscopy Group, Chemistry Division

Los Alamos National Laboratory

Remote laser-based spectroscopic techniques have made significant impacts on the future of planetary investigations. The ChemCam instrument on the NASA Curiosity rover has been exploring Mars since landing on August 5, 2012. The ChemCam instrument is the integration of a remote Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectrometer (LIBS) and a Remote Micro-Imager (RMI). The ChemCam LIBS instrument focuses a 1064 nm laser on rocks and soils up to 7 m from the rover mast. This focused laser ablates material from these targets generating a plasma containing electronically excited atoms, ions and small molecules. A telescope is used to collect some of the emission as these excited species relax to lower electronic states. The ChemCam laser has been fired over 600,000 time, each laser shot produces a quantifiable LIBS spectrum.

The Mars 2020 rover is currently under construction and will start to explore Jezero crater in February 2021. The Mars 2020 rover includes several instruments capable of microscale geologic analysis including SuperCam and Scanning Habitable Environments with Raman Luminescence for Organics and Chemicals (SHERLOC). SuperCam contains an integrated suite of remote LIBS, 532 nm (green) Raman Spectroscopy, Time-Resolved Luminescence Spectroscopy (TRLS), Visible and Infrared Spectroscopy (VISIR), color RMI, and a microphone. The SHERLOC instrument is an arm mounted ultraviolet Raman and Fluorescence Spectrometer designed to detect organic and biological materials in Jezero crater.

Finally, the Venus Elemental and Mineralogical Camera (VEMCam) is currently under development as a potential instrument for future explorations of the Venus surface. VEMCam is the integration of LIBS, 532 nm Raman Spectroscopy, Time-Resolved Luminescence Spectroscopy (TRLS), and color imagers. The Venus atmosphere at the surface consists of approximately 92 atm of supercritical CO 2 at approximately 740 K. Landers tend to survive in this atmosphere for only hours and rapid analyses are required. The VEMCam instrument is capable of recording more than 1000 LIBS, Raman, and TRLS spectra within the first hour on the surface from within the safety of the lander.

This presentation will focus on the ChemCam, SuperCam, SHERLOC, and VEMCam instrument physics. There will also be a discussion on the Curiosity and Mars 2020 mission goals and the contributions these instruments make to realize these goals.

This acclaimed program returns for its sixth, and to date most varied and provocative exhibition of the convergence of science and art. Presenting artwork and installations across a range of media and technologies, Vision + Light: Processing Perception offers stunning visual, mind-bending virtual, and intriguing tactile experiences to spark thought and inspiration. Meet and share ideas with the scientists and artists whose work is on display. Join us for conversations on science, image, connections and creativity.